Interface Control Documents

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The communication boundaries between the Global Positioning System and other systems, as well as within the GPS itself, are known as interfaces.

Interfaces are documented in Interface Control Documents (ICDs). ICDs are the formal means of establishing, defining, and controlling interfaces and for documenting detailed interface design definition for the GPS program.

Interface Specifications (ISs) are specific types of ICDs. ISs specify a single government office or agency as the only necessary and required approval authority for the document. However, the procedure and the process for development, control, and maintenance is the same for both ICDs and ISs.

ICD-GPS-240

Updated Jul 2018

Interface Control Document ICD-GPS-240 defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Control Segment (CS) and the GPS user and user-support communities during the Operational Control System (OCS)/Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) systems era.

ICD-GPS-870

Updated Jul 2018

Interface Control Document ICD-GPS-870 defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) and the GPS user and user-support communities. The ICD describes the data files that are transferred in this interface and the means by which they are distributed. ICD-GPS-870 captures the same interface as ICD-GPS-240, but for the OCX era.

Public ICWG Meeting & Public Forum on May 7, 2019

The Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) is a specialized technical working group comprised of appropriate technical representatives from the interfacing activities and other interested participating organizations.

The ICWG serves as a forum to develop and provide interface requirements, as well as focus on interface detail definition and issues.

ICWG members include representatives from the GPS Directorate of the U.S. Air Force, other government agencies and offices, contractors, and other industry organizations.

The detailed description and requirements of ICWGs are provided in the GPS ICWG Charter.View charter

ICWGs for documents that are publicly releasable are referred to as Public ICWGs, which are structured the same as the ICWG but with a few additional requirements. The additional requirements include coordinating meetings and documents to the public.

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This page was last modified on May 3, 2019.
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